Exposure of biofilms to slow flow fields: The convective contribution to growth and disinfection

Eberl, Hermann J.; Sudarsan, Rangarajan

doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2008.04.013

Cited by 50 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…We set in the "virtual grid points" u 0,j := u 1,j , u n+1,j := u n,j , u i,0 := u i,1 , u i,m+1 := u i,m and eliminate them from (18). The system of nm ordinary differential equations is integrated by the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method RKF4 (5).…”

Section: Numerical Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, the proof in [6] does not allow to compute quantitative estimates for η, so that we have to fall back on comparisons with computer simulations. For example, in the 2D and 3D simulations of the single-species growth model in [4,5,6], the solution reached values above u ≈ 0.99 but remained below u ≈ 0.9999, thus, we have the numerical estimatesη > 10 −4 . In all three cases the exponents in the biomass diffusion coefficient were a = b = 4 and the biofilm motility coefficient On the other hand the valueη := 1−ũ can be computed from (15).…”

Section: An Inverse Problemmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…in [4,5,6,8]. The pecularity of that model lies in the form of the nonlinear diffusion coefficient D(u), namely…”

Section: An Inverse Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Nonlinear Master Equation for a Degenerate Diffusion Model of Biofilm Growth

Khassehkhan

Hillen

Eberl

2009

Lecture Notes in Computer Science

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Abstract. We present a continuous time/discrete space model of biofilm growth, starting from the semi-discrete master equation. The probabilities of biomass movement into neighboring sites depend on the local biomass density and on the biomass density in the target site such that spatial movement only takes place if (i) locally not enough space is available to accommodate newly produced biomass and (ii) the target site has capacity to accommodate new biomass. This mimics the rules employed by Cellular Automata models of biofilms. Grid refinement leads formally to a degenerate parabolic equation. We show that a set of transition rules can be found such that a previously studied ad hoc density-dependent diffusion-reaction model of biofilm formation is approximated well.

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Section: Numerical Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: An Inverse Problemmentioning

confidence: 87%

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A Nonlinear Master Equation for a Degenerate Diffusion Model of Biofilm Growth

Khassehkhan

Hillen

Eberl

2009

Lecture Notes in Computer Science

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“…Lattice models with cellular automata-like rules for biofilm growth have predicted a wide range of biofilm morphologies [75], and also graphically demonstrated the advection of substrates around the fluid-biofilm interface [72]. Continuum representations of the biofilm as constitutively linear elastic [21,26,28,92], non-linear elastic [12,27], viscous [20], or viscoelastic [95] bodies is challenging as the interface must be tracked using stress and displacement matching; simplifications such as a one-way coupling or reduced dimensionality are sometimes employed. Interface tracking is not required for phase field models, which have been employed to argue that low matrix elasticity is required for streamers to form [94] and to investigate the role of cohesion on interface stabilisation [51].…”

Section: Fluid-structure Couplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomechanical Analysis of Infectious Biofilms

Head

2016

Biophysics of Infection

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The removal of infectious biofilms from tissues or implanted devices and their transmission through fluid transport systems depends in part of the mechanical properties of their polymeric matrix. Linking the various physical and chemical microscopic interactions to macroscopic deformation and failure modes promises to unveil design principles for novel therapeutic strategies targeting biofilm eradication, and provide a predictive capability to accelerate the development of devices, water lines etc. that minimise microbial dispersal. Here our current understanding of biofilm mechanics is appraised from the perspective of biophysics, with an emphasis on constitutive modelling that has been highly successful in soft matter. Fitting rheometric data to viscoelastic models has quantified linear and non-linear stress relaxation mechanisms, how they vary between species and environments, and how candidate chemical treatments alter the mechanical response. The rich interplay between growth, mechanics and hydrodynamics is just becoming amenable to computational modelling and promises to provide unprecedented characterisation of infectious biofilms in their native state.

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“…This was achieved by the development of a novel three-layer flow model in a rectangular cross-section microchannel with relevant boundary conditions. This approach contributes a new focus on viscosity properties to the growing body of work using fluid mechanics modeling methods for biofilms, such as thin-film asymptotic model to describe biofilm growth, 12,13,56 mass transfer, 39 differential-discrete mathematical modelling of structure, 38 and others. 55 The approach opens the way for less intrusive, time-resolved studies of the effect of a range of physiochemical effects on biofilm mechanical properties, such as ionic strength.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A microfluidic method and custom model for continuous, non-intrusive biofilm viscosity measurements under different nutrient conditions

et al. 2016

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Straight, low-aspect ratio micro flow cells are used to support biofilm attachment and preferential accumulation at the short side-wall, which progressively reduces the effective channel width. The biofilm shifts downstream at measurable velocities under the imposed force from the constant laminar co-flowing nutrient stream. The dynamic behaviour of the biofilm viscosity is modeled semi-analytically, based on experimental measurements of biofilm dimensions and velocity as inputs. The technique advances the study of biofilm mechanical properties by strongly limiting biases related to non-Newtonian biofilm properties (e.g., shear dependent viscosity) with excellent time resolution. To demonstrate the proof of principle, young Pseudomonas sp. biofilms were analyzed under different nutrient concentrations and constant micro-flow conditions. The striking results show that large initial differences in biofilm viscosities grown under different nutrient concentrations become nearly identical in less than one day, followed by a continuous thickening process. The technique verifies that in 50 h from inoculation to early maturation stages, biofilm viscosity could grow by over 2 orders of magnitude. The approach opens the way for detailed studies of mechanical properties under a wide variety of physiochemical conditions, such as ionic strength, temperature, and shear stress. Published by AIP Publishing. [http://dx

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Exposure of biofilms to slow flow fields: The convective contribution to growth and disinfection

Cited by 50 publications

References 53 publications

A Nonlinear Master Equation for a Degenerate Diffusion Model of Biofilm Growth

A Nonlinear Master Equation for a Degenerate Diffusion Model of Biofilm Growth

Biomechanical Analysis of Infectious Biofilms

A microfluidic method and custom model for continuous, non-intrusive biofilm viscosity measurements under different nutrient conditions

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